Azerbaijan’s Natural Gas Production Exceeds 24 bcm in First Half of the Year
Azerbaijan Reports Increase in Natural Gas Production and Exports in the First Half of 2023
Baku, July 12 – According to operational data released by the Ministry of Energy, Azerbaijan has seen a significant increase in natural gas production and exports during the first six months of 2023.
Between January and June, Azerbaijan produced 24.1 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas. The majority of the gas, 6.5 bcm, was extracted from the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) field, while 13.2 bcm was produced from the Shah Deniz field. The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) contributed 4.4 bcm to the total gas production during this period.
Gas transportation also witnessed an increase, with a total of 0.7 bcm more gas transported compared to the same period last year, indicating a 3% growth.
Gas sales during this period amounted to 12 bcm, which represents a 7.5% increase compared to the previous year. The country exported approximately 5 bcm of gas to Turkey, 5.7 bcm to Europe, and 1.3 bcm to Georgia. Notably, more than 2.8 bcm of gas was exported to Turkey through the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP).
Since the commencement of operations at the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli and Shah Deniz fields until July 1, 2023, Azerbaijan has produced a total of 209.9 bcm of gas from ACG and more than 195.9 bcm from Shah Deniz. Additionally, more than 138.1 bcm of gas has been exported from Shah Deniz during this period.
In terms of oil production, Azerbaijan produced 15.2 million tons (including condensate) in the first half of the year. ACG accounted for 9.1 million tons of oil production, while Shah Deniz contributed 2.2 million tons of condensate. SOCAR’s oil output amounted to 3.9 million tons (including condensate).
The volume of exported oil, including condensate, reached 12.7 million tons during the reporting period. Out of this, the consortium accounted for nearly 11.3 million tons, while SOCAR exported 1.4 million tons.
Since the commissioning of ACG and Shah Deniz until July 1, 2023, Azerbaijan has extracted more than 618.4 million tons of oil (including condensate) from these fields. ACG alone has contributed 576 million tons of crude oil, and Shah Deniz has yielded about 42.4 million tons of condensate. In terms of exports, approximately 616.5 million tons of oil have been shipped out of the country.
Furthermore, in the first half of 2023, Azerbaijan’s oil refining volume reached 3.1 million tons.
The increase in natural gas production and exports, as well as steady oil production, highlight Azerbaijan’s significant contribution to the global energy market. With ongoing investments and development projects in the country’s energy sector, Azerbaijan is poised to further strengthen its position as a key player in the international energy landscape.
